Creative Works   

No Ordinary Love (Part 4)
By Aspacia
Aspacia23(at)yahoo.com

Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine, though I wish Angel was, but anyway they belong to evil Joss Whedon etc, etc, etc. Please don't sue. I'm a poor college student and I'm just using them to vent out my frustration over the recent turn of events. I'm also borrowing some songs from wonderful artist like Chris Isaak, Alanis Morrisette, INXS etc. Please don't sue either.
Author's Note: I just want to thank Vampcat for her help editing this part of the story.

. . .

Giles sat in his office; desperately searching in the Codex for some kind of indication of what had happened to Buffy. Deep down he knew that Buffy's disappearance had nothing to do with a prophecy, still he didn't know what exactly had happened to her.

"Giles did you find anything?" asked Willow as she entered the office. Xander following close behind.

"I'm afraid there is nothing on my books pertaining to Buffy's disappearance." Giles took off his glasses and started massaging his forehead. His head hurt, probably because he hadn't slept at all since he realized Buffy was missing.

"I don't understand," said Xander. "We searched everywhere, it's like the earth swallowed her. I know that this being the Hellmouth and all, that is a distinct possibility, but you would know about it right?" Xander desperately wanted reassurance from Giles.

"Yes, I believe so." Giles sounded more hesitant than usual.

"Wait a minute, there is a place we haven't searched yet," said Willow, a hopeful smile spreading across her face. "We haven't looked in Angel's apartment."

"What?" The two men squealed in unison looking at Willow as if she was some kind of space alien or a loony bin escapee.

"Why in the world would she want to go to that freak's apartment?" asked Xander. Jealousy and hatred showed their ugly head in the tone of his voice.

"Maybe she needed to be alone. You remember how sad she was the night she disappeared," said Willow. "She once told me that Angel's place always made her feel safe."

"But that was before the guy showed his true colors." Xander was pouting. He didn't like the thought of Buffy going anywhere near Angel's place.

"Xander can you put your hostility towards Angel aside for a minute?" Willow spoke to Xander as a mother would when scolding a five year-old child. "We searched everywhere, but his place. Maybe she isn't there, but don't you think we ought to try?" Willow started walking towards the door.

"Okay, okay just don't have a cow." Xander raised his hands as a sign of defeat.

"Willow you might be right, please be careful," Giles got up from his chair and followed the teens out of his office to watch them leave. He was startled by Willow's display of assertiveness. This was happening more and more lately.

"Don't worry Giles. We'll ask Oz and Cordilia to come with us. Like they say there is safety in numbers." When they reached the door Willow turned around to look at Giles. She was concerned about him. If something had happened to Buffy it would totally devastate him. "Giles, we'll let you know if we find anything okay," said Willow in a soothing voice before exiting the library.

Giles went back into his office and sat in his chair. He put his head on his hands and started praying. He was truly terrified of the possibilities. The police had searched all the local hospitals and the city morgue, but they hadn't found Buffy. It could only mean that she was still out there. What if Angel had her? He could be torturing her, after all he was known for his sadistic tendencies. Or what if…God no he couldn't even contemplate the possibility.

A slight noise outside his office brought him back to reality. Getting up slowly he opened his desk drawer and reached for a stake.

"Rupert I'm sorry to disturb you, but I would like to talk to you," said Joyce Summer as she stepped into his office.

"Joyce please sit down." Giles quickly hid the stake and closed the drawer. He pulled out a chair for her to sit down.

"Have you heard from Buffy?" asked Joyce as she sat down.

"I'm sorry I haven't heard from her, neither have the kids"

"I called Hank in LA and he hasn't heard from her either." Sighing Joyce got up from the chair and headed to the door. "Thank you for your help. If you hear anything please let me know"

Joyce started walking out of the library. Suddenly she stopped in her tracks. The pain was too much and she started sobbing vehemently.

In an instant Giles was at her side. Putting his hand on her back, he led her to one of the tables near by. He perfectly understood the kind of anguish she was feeling. Buffy was like a daughter to him and her disappearance was killing him.

"Joyce please tell me how I can help you." Giles sat on a chair right next to her.

"This is all my fault," said Joyce through her tears. "I must have done something to make her run away. I tried so hard to be a good mother, but I guess it wasn't good enough."

Giles felt like a knife had been twisted in his heart. At that moment he realized that he had to tell her the truth. He couldn't let her believe that Buffy's disappearance was her fault. He had to let her know that her daughter's sacred duty was probably the reason for her pain. If something had happened to Buffy, he had to let her know that it wasn't her fault.

"Joyce please listen to me." Giles took off his glasses as he tried to put his thought in order. What he was about to tell her would be the biggest shock of her life. "What I'm about to tell you will seem absolutely inconceivable at first, but please let me finish before you dismiss me. It would help you understand a lot of things about your daughter."

"Please tell me." Joyce took a deep breath.

"Contrary to popular belief…."

"Oh honey looks like we got here right on time!" A familiar voice spoke from the shadows.

Immediately Joyce and Giles turned towards the place from where the excited voice had come from.

"Babe, I would have thought that you would be tired by now of that stupid 'For each generation' speech," said Angel as he and Buffy stepped into the light.

"Buffy," gasped Joyce as she ran to hug her daughter. Buffy stepped forward and opened her arms to welcome her mother.

"Stay away from her!" screamed Giles. He had immediately figured out what had happened as soon as he saw Buffy with Angel. His warning was too late, Buffy had already grabbed Joyce by her hair and brought her down to her knees.

"Giles must you always be so uptight?" whined Buffy. "Angel and I are here just to have a little fun."

Smiling coldly, Buffy looked at Giles as she put her 'game' face on. She turned to look down to where her mother was still struggling to get up.

"Buffy let go of me this instant! What the hell do you…"Joyce was rendered speechless as she finally got her first look at her daughter's face. Her jaw dropped as confusion and terror inundated her mind.

"Oh gosh, I guess I should have let Giles finish his little story huh?" said Buffy mockingly. "Yes mother, vampires are real and guess what? I'm one of them." Buffy giggled enjoying the terrified expression on Joyce's face.

"Oh my God!" said Joyce when she finally managed to speak.

"Angel, do they always said that before they die?" Buffy asked innocently as she turned to look at her sire.

"Yup, I think they actually believe he is going to come to save them." Angel was enjoying the way Buffy was toying with her mother before she killed her. It was satisfying to know that her heart was as evil as his was. She loved to inflict emotional pain on her victims just as much as he did. Buffy was the perfect partner and life would always be fun with her by his side.

"Buffy, please let go of her," said Giles.

"Come on Giles, do you actually think that begging will do you any good? It certainly didn't work for Jenny." Buffy arched an amused eyebrow as malicious satisfaction showed in her eyes. She loved the pained expression on his face at the mention of the teacher's name. "That's right, Angel told me how he killed her. Would you like me to show you? I really don't mind. I just love that delicious sound of breaking bones. Lets not forget the way the dead bodies drop to the floor like rag dolls."

Joyce let out a frantic shriek as Buffy slowly raised her arm and grabbed a hold of her jaw. Tears were trickling down her face. She was too paralyzed with stark terror to even try to escape.

Buffy on the other hand was relishing in the effect she was having on her mother.

"But now that I think about it," said Buffy as she mockingly stopped to contemplate her options. "I'm still kind of hungry so I'll just feed from you. Say good bye to this world bitch."

With a sadistic gleam in her eyes, Buffy gradually lowered her head as she bared her fangs.

"Make one more move and he dies," called a familiar accented voice.

Cautiously Buffy raised her head. Looking up she saw that Kendra had a hold of Angel's neck and had brought him down to his knees. She had quietly come into the library when she heard the argument from outside.

Angel tried to free himself, but when he felt the sharp end of the stake against his back aiming at his heart, he stopped moving. He promised himself that Kendra would pay for the humiliation. He would hunt her down and shred her to pieces.

The vampire and slayer looked straight at each other's eyes; one with hatred for an enemy and the other with sadness for a lost friend and ally.

"Well, well look who's here," said Buffy as she carefully examined the situation. She quickly realized that Kendra had the upper hand. A wrong move and Angel would be turned to dust. "Kendra it has been a long time."

"Yes, it has," answered the slayer, not allowing Buffy's friendly tone of voice to fool her. "Mr. Giles what should I do with him?"

"You always ask for instructions, what is up with that?" Buffy desperately wanted to distract the slayer while she figured a way to get Angel and herself out of this mess.

Not realizing what was going on the slayerettes came into the library, still arguing about Buffy's possible whereabouts.

"Hey G-man, just like I said she wasn't at the freak's apt…." Xander was stopped in mid sentence when he saw the horrifying scene taking place in the library.

"Oh my God," said Willow terrified at seeing what had happened to her dear friend. Oz quickly stepped in front of her, ready to protect his girlfriend.

"Ha, I was right. I told you guys that is what happened to her. Who is the moron now?" asked Cordilia.

"Oh I think you still hold the title Cordy," said Xander with his typical condescending smirk.

"Guys, could you leave your bickering for some other time?" said Willow truly exasperated at their lousy timing. "This isn't the time for games."

The teens immediately pulled out from their hiding place, the crosses and water guns filled with holy water they now carried every where they went. Cautiously they came to stand close to Kendra and Angel. Angel growled at the proximity of the religious artifacts.

"Buffy, as you can see you are at a disadvantage." Giles hoped that he could persuade Buffy to let her mother go. "I think you should reconsider my earlier request."

"So what you are saying is that you want me to let of the bitch, while your favorite slayer turns my boyfriend into a pile of dust? Please, do I have the word moron tattooed on my forehead or something?"

"We could negotiate," answered the watcher.

"Why should I trust you?"

"Buffy look around. Do you think you have any other options?" Giles shifted uncomfortably, knowing that Joyce's life depended on his powers of persuasion.

Buffy looked around and realized that there was no way to get Angel away from Kendra with her former friends surrounding them. She would have to make a deal.

"Fine, I'll let her go. Before I do that I want the geeks to get away from Angel."

Giles finally released the breath he had been holding. "Kids step back."

Reluctantly the teens did as they had been told.

"Okay, that is a good start. Now the only way I'm letting the bitch go, is if Kendra releases Angel at the same time I let go of her." Buffy started walking, dragging her mother along. They came to stand close to the exit, their backs facing the swinging doors.

In the mean time Kendra and Angel had come to stand in the spot where Buffy had been before.

"We have a deal" Giles have Joyce a reassuring smile. "On the count of three. One, two, three."

Buffy shoved her mother to the side, while Kendra pushed Angel towards Buffy. Once Angel regained his footing the two vampires slowly started walking towards the exit doors. Their eyes glued to the group.

"This isn't over," said Buffy fierce aggression emanating from her body. "You will pay for this. I will rip you apart one by one."

Once the vampires exited the library, the group turned their attention to Joyce who was still on the floor where Buffy had thrown her.

"Joyce are you okay?" asked Giles as he helped her to her feet. "Please come and sit down. Xander go get her a glass of water. NOW."

"Giles I don't understand. She was going to kill me," said Joyce as she closed her eyes trying to stop her tears. "Her face, is it true? Is she a vampire?"

"I'm afraid she was telling the truth." Giles shuddered finally allowing himself to face the facts. Buffy was a vampire and he had started to believe he could have stopped it.

"I just can't believe it. Vampires are supposed to be a figment of children's imaginations."

"Joyce remember that before Buffy came in I told you there were some things that I wanted to tell you. Well, now more than ever I think you need to learn the truth."

For the next hour the watcher tried to explain to a very frightened mother about her daughter's sacred duty and about her tragic demise. She was told about the master, the judge, Angel's true identity and about his relationship with Buffy. She was told about the months of pain and sorrow her daughter had lived through after Angel's change.

"My God, what kind of mother am I?" Joyce covered her face in shame. "How could I have not known what was going on with my own daughter?"

"Joyce you weren't supposed to know." Giles reached for her hands trying to give her some comfort. "Telling you the truth would have meant putting you in danger and she didn't want that."

"She must have been so hurt by my attitude towards her. I treated her like a juvenile delinquent." Joyce stared into space remembering the pain she had seen in her daughter's eyes. Pain she had mistaken for sulking, for another expression of rebellion. "All those times she was out saving the world, facing unspeakable evil I thought she was trying to undermine my authority. She must have been so scared. And what did she have to come home to, nothing but me yelling and nagging. Grounding her constantly."

"Joyce believe me when I tell you that she wanted that." Giles just shook his head realizing that his words weren't getting through to her. "That nagging and grounding gave her some sense of normalcy. It made her feel like she was just a regular kid and that was something she desperately wanted and needed."

Joyce silently got up from the table and headed for the door.

"Is there anything that I can do for you?" asked Giles as he got up from his chair.

"No, not really." Joyce didn't turn around to answer and just kept walking. The grief was too much. " I need to be alone and think. I have to figure out a way to tell Hank that our daughter is dead and that a demon has possession of her body."

Once she was out of the library, Giles gave a frustrated groan. He raked his fingers through his hair before knocking down a chair. The slayerettes were bewildered by his actions.

"My God what have I done?" Giles let out a growl filled with raw emotion.

"Giles you had to tell her." Willow quickly moved to his side and put a hand on his shoulder trying to give him some reassurance. "You just had to."

"Damn it! That is not what I'm talking about," he snarled as he pushed Willow's hand away from him. Immediately he regretted the sharpness of his tone at seeing the hurt look in her eyes. Another person he had hurt unwillingly. "I'm sorry Willow. I'm talking about Buffy."

"Giles I'm not quite sure I understand what you are saying. You didn't make Buffy a vampire." A frown creased Willow's forehead. She didn't like the fact that he was blaming himself.

"No I didn't, you are right about that." He reached down to pick up the chair he had knocked down then slumped on it. "But I could have stopped it from happening."

"No offense Giles, but you are no Hulk Hogan," said Xander. "If Buffy couldn't stop him, what makes you think you could have?"

"Physically I couldn't have, but I could have helped her fight harder."

"You mean like a cheerleader?" asked Cordilia.

Giles closed his eyes dumfounded by her utter simple-mindedness. "No, I mean I could have giving her a reason to fight. Angelus is no match for her physical strength and the only way he could have successfully made her a vampire is if she didn't fight him at all. However Angelus' emotional attacks on her were wearing her down. I don't think she consciously allowed him to turn her into a vampire. I think she just wanted it to be over. She couldn't fight anymore because after Jenny's death she had given up hope of getting Angel back."

"So, how could you have given her a reason to fight?" asked Willow.

"By giving her hope of getting Angel back," said Giles as he let out a sigh. "You see I found the spell that could return his soul the day she disappeared. The pain and hatred of losing Jenny at Angelus' hands made me forget my duty. If I had told her that I had the spell she would have never given up."

A collective gasp was heard in the room. The teens finally understood the extent of his guilt.

. . .

Page 4 of 6
Read the next part >>

. . .

Fanfiction Index